1715 "REPRESENTATIVE PHILANTHROPIST OF THE EARLY CENTURY" 020. NELSON, Robert. An Address to persons of quality and estate. To which is added, an appendix of some original and valuable papers. London: G. James, for Richard Smith, at Bishop Beveridge's Head in Pater-Noster-Row. 1715. Fine frontispiece portrait, xxxi, 267,55,[56-62] including 3p. advts. Contemporary panelled calf. A fine and handsome copy with the Bookplate of Sir Joseph Van Neck. The Appendix contains papers relating to Charity Schools; "A view of the Progress of the Charity May 1704, inclusive", "Schools in and About London" with a table of the numbers of pupils, male and female; "A view of the number of the Poor Children, and other people maintained and received in the several hospitals in, and about London, since Easter 1704. inclusive: I. Christ's Hospital. II. St. Bartholomew's Hospital. III. St. Thomas's Hospital. IV. Bethlehem Hospital. Bridewell Hospital.", "A Proposal for a Charity-School for the Black-Guard Boys. " Robert Nelson (1657-1715), philanthropist. According to David Owen in English Philanthropy 1660-1960, Nelson "can stand as the representative philanthropist of the early century and was admired as the special embodiment of Christian Charity. " He was an early though not a charter member of S. P. C. K. and S . P. G. But it was in the Charity School movement that he made his most significant contribution. He was also an energetic supporter of Bray's scheme for Parochial Libraries. Nelson's Address to persons of quality and estate is described by Owen as "a remarkably prescient document". Nelson's purpose in this book is to appeal to the humanitarian instincts of the prosperous classes and draw their attention to constructive outlets for their charity. The section of 100 pages entitled "Ways and means of doing good" provides a useful survey of the charitable activities in progress. Particularly valuable were Nelson's suggestions as to what still needed to be done. He drew attention to the need for medical charities and for some support and protection for penitent prostitutes and exposed infants. This precise call was to be answered within few decades by Jonas Hanway. In addition Nelson's call for the human refuse of the streets, the children "called the Black-Guard," to be provided with schools and hospitals, is an interesting anticipation of the nineteenth century Ragged School Movement.